Bibliometric maps of science fields

Bibliometric mapping of science is a technique/method to generate an overview of a research field. A research field can be defined (delineated) by search terms, journals or any bibliographic field yielding a set of publications covering the main research in that particular field. Starting with this set of publications, we generate an overview of the field, disclosing sub-domains and their mutual (cognitive) relation in a two-dimensional space (a map). This is established in such a way that sub-domains with a strong relation are in each other's vicinity while those with a weak relation are distant from each other. With this overview, a user is able to explore the field with respect to: main actors, institutes with high impact, and all kinds of other sub-domain characteristics.

The map can be considered as an interface to retrieve the described information, not as a standard Information Retrieval (IR) tool such as an internet search engine. Such IR tools are designed to search in a (publication) database to disclose particular documents of interest. They do not generate a top-down overview of the field. A map provides an overview to find information if you are able to interpret it.

The results of such projects will be published on a webpage with a dedicated interface.